Told from the perspective of contemporary Lakota people, the film explores the life of Crazy Horse (Tasunke Witko). Viewers see the natural world of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana that Crazy Horse knew. His spiritual nature is discussed, as are his unique qualities as a leader. The final portion of the film examines his role at the Battle of Little Bighorn, his resistance against reservation life, and his violent death at Fort Robinson in 1877. Lakota people share what Crazy Horse means in their world today. The film features original music created for this story. Sharing their insights are Lakota historians Jace DeCory, Donovin Sprague, Wilmer Mesteth and Whitney Recountre.
Elder and co-author of the Oceti Sakowin Essentail Understandings, Dottie LeBeau, discusses the thinking and the objectives of the Elders during the writing of the Essential Understandings. **With deep gratitude to Dottie LeBeau for providing funding for the Lakota translation of this website.
Why Focus Our State’s Attention on the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings?
1) So that the people of the Oceti Sakowin (via their elders) to understand their definitions of themselves, something that has not been the case, historically. Non-native definitions and ways of being in this region have been diminished because of a history of non-listening. Native definitions and ways of being in this region have been stifled through the silencing of historic oppression, separation and targeted, forced assimilation.
2) To open up a deeper understanding of the natural environment of South Dakota by listening closely to the experiences and stories of those who have been here longest, and whose traditional culture and way of life were shaped by and within this environment.
3) The Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings are a beginning place to which all of us, native and non-native, can bring our full selves around the circle (placing doing in service to Being) so that the algorithm of our interacting can expand understanding rather than diminishing it.
4) The process of coming to understand my neighbor is interwoven with the process of coming to understand myself.
2018 was the 150th anniversary commemoration of the signing of the 1869 Ft. Laramie Treaty. The WoLakota Project team was honored to be invited to this gathering to document some of the addresses. The following playlist contains some of the footage gathered there.